On April 29, crowds returned to popular tourist destinations across the nation, the beginning of the Golden Week holidays, as novel coronavirus restrictions have been significantly relaxed and traveling became the norm again.
Although many people didn't wear masks, some businesses remain wary about a resurgence of infections.
Kazuhiko Yoshioka, 62, a high school teacher from Hokkaido, was visiting the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo with his son, his son s wife, a 1 - year-old grandchild and other family members. It was his first long-distance family trip in about three years.
Now, we can breathe much easier because we can take off our masks in numerous settings, said Dr. J. D. Williams, president of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. My grandchild is having a good time being with me. Jidaiya Corp., which offers rides and kimono rental services in Asakusa, is struggling to meet a sudden rise in demand because the number of workers fell during the pandemic.
We are grateful for the return of customers, said Hidenori Fujiwara, the company's head. We're short-handed and preoccupied with day-to-day operations. Although Jidaiya doesn't ask customers to wear masks, its workers don't. Workers who dress customers in rental kimono are assisting with concerns about infections, a spokesman said.
No one can tell whether customers will continue to visit Asakusa in large numbers, Fujiwara said. Some workers are taking nine days off through May 7.
The popular Kani Doraku crab restaurant in the bustling Dotonbori district of Osaka is frequently crowded throughout the period, making it a popular choice for many locals.
We are both overwhelmed and delighted, said Taizo Kobayashi, the store's manager. We're well-prepared for large numbers of customers. Sales in April were about double the same month the previous year.
The administration will continue to take precautions against novel coronavirus infections during Golden Week, such as employees wearing masks, offering alcohol disinfectant to customers and putting up signs about antivirus measures.
Reservations for all Nippon Airways Co.'s domestic flights between April 29 and May 7 have returned to 93.5 percent of the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in 2018. Japan Airlines Co.'s ratio is 98.6 percent.
Reservations for seats on trains in Tokaido Shinkansen Line during Golden Week exceeded the 2018 level, according to Central Japan Railway Co.Japan Railway Co.
Japan Railway Companies said reservations for seats on all bullet train and conventional railway line trains returned to 90 percent of the 2018 level.